Saxifraga plant named ‘SAXZ0010’

ABSTRACT

A new  Saxifraga  plant named ‘SAXZ0010’ particularly distinguished by the large flowers with deep red-purple flower color and lighter centers, short peduncles on a vigorous but compact plant habit.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Saxifraga×arendsii.

Varietal denomination: ‘SAXZ0010’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new Saxifraga, botanically known as Saxifraga×arendsii, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘SAXZ0010’.

‘SAXZ0010’ is a product of a planned breeding program. The new cultivar ‘SAXZ0010’ has large flowers with deep red-purple flower color and lighter centers, short peduncles on a vigorous but compact plant habit.

‘SAXZ0010’ originates from a hybridization made in a greenhouse in April 2007 in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands. The female parent was an unpatented, proprietary plant identified as ‘J1500-3’. ‘J1500-3’ has white flower color, is earlier to flower and a more compact haibt compared to ‘SAXZ0010’.

The male parent of ‘SAXZ0010’ was an unpatented, proprietary plant identified as ‘K0891-2’ with red flower color, less plant vigor and longer peduncles compared to ‘SAXZ0010’. The resultant seed was sown in August 2007 in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands.

‘SAXZ0010’ was selected as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in March 2008 in a greenhouse in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘SAXZ0010’ was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were propagated from the initial selection in March 2008 in a greenhouse in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Horticultural examination of plants grown from cuttings of the plant initiated in March 2008 in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands, and continuing thereafter, has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for ‘SAXZ0010’ are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

‘SAXZ0010’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and day length.

A Plant Breeder's Right for this cultivar was applied for in Canada on Jun. 7, 2012. ‘SAXZ0010’ has not been made publicly available more than one year prior to the filing of this application.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of the new variety. The combination of these characteristics distinguishes this Saxifraga as a new and distinct variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographic drawing shows typical flower and foliage characteristics of ‘SAXZ0010’ with colors being as true as possible with an illustration of this type. The photographic drawing shows a flowering plant of the new variety with a close-up of the flowers.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The plant descriptions and measurements were taken in Gilroy, Calif. under natural light in March 2012. These plants were approximately 24 weeks old and were growing in 1 gallon pots in shade-house trials. The plants used for the photographs were about 28 weeks old, growing in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands and the photographs were taken in March 2012.

Color Chart used: Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.) 2001

TABLE 1 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE NEW VARIETY ‘SAXZ0010’ AND A SIMILAR VARIETY ‘Rockrose’ (U.S. ‘SAXZ0010’ Plant Pat. No. 19,301) Flower size: Larger Smaller Plant vigor: More Less Flower color fading habit: Fades less Fades more to pink

-   Plant:     -   -   Form, growth and habit.—A rosetting habit that is vigorous,             yet compact and mounded. Each rosette develops several short             branched peduncles that are freely flowering.         -   Plant height.—6.0-7.0 cm.         -   Plant height (inflorescence included).—17.0-19.0 cm.         -   Plant width.—22.0-25.0 cm. -   Roots:     -   -   Number of days to initiate roots.—About 7 days at about 18             degrees C.         -   Number of days to produce a rooted cutting.—3 weeks at 18             degrees C.         -   Type.—Fine, fibrous, free branching.         -   Color.—RHS N155B but whiter. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Immature, leaf color, upper surface.—RHS 137B.         -   Lower surface.—RHS 138B.         -   Mature, leaf color, upper surface.—RHS 137B.         -   Lower surface.—RHS 138B.         -   Length.—1.0 cm.         -   Width.—1.0-1.1 cm.         -   Shape.—Spathulate; cleft-lobed.         -   Base shape.—Cuneate.         -   Apex shape.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Glandular hair.         -   Lower surface.—Glandular hairs.         -   Color of veins, upper surface.—Indistinct.         -   Color of veins, lower surface.—Indistinct.         -   Petiole color.—RHS 137D.         -   Length.—0.3-0.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.25 cm.         -   Texture.—Glandular hairs on both sides. -   Lateral branching:     -   -   Color.—RHS 137D.         -   Length of branch.—0.2 cm.         -   Diameter of branch.—0.1-0.2 cm.         -   Texture.—Glandular hairs.         -   Color of peduncle.—RHS 144A.         -   Length of peduncle.—9.0-14.0 cm.         -   Peduncle diameter.—0.1-0.15 cm.         -   Texture.—Heavily covered with glandular hairs that are             colored with anthocyanins.         -   Pedicel color.—RHS 144B.         -   Pedicel length.—1.5-4.0 cm.         -   Pedicel diameter.—0.075 cm.         -   Pedicel texture.—Heavily covered with glandular hairs that             are colored with anthocyanins. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Type.—Simple cyme or raceme; single flower composed of 5             imbricate petals; flowers held above the plant and pretty             flat.         -   Quantity of inflorescences per plant.—150-200 with numerous             buds.         -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—About 14             days.         -   Fragrance.—None. -   Bud (just before opening/showing color):     -   -   Color.—RHS 60B.         -   Length.—0.6-0.9 cm.         -   Width.—0.3-0.4 cm.         -   Shape.—Conical. -   Corolla:     -   -   Immature inflorescence.—Diameter: 1.7-2.0 cm. Color of             petals, upper surface: RHS 61A overlaid with mottled shades             of RHS 61B with veins and margins of RHS 61A. Lower surface:             RHS 61B, lighter basally.         -   Mature inflorescence.—Flower diameter: 2.4-2.6 cm. Depth:             0.7-0.8 cm. Petal color, upper surface: RHS 61A overlaid             with mottled shades of RHS 61B becoming lighter more whitish             basally with age; with veins and margins of RHS 61A. Lower             surface: RHS 61B, lighter basally. Length of petal:             0.8-1.0 cm. Width of petal: 1.0-1.2 cm. Shape: Orbicular.             Apex shape: Rounded to some obtuse. Margin: Entire. Petal             texture, upper surface: Papillose. Lower surface: Papillose. -   Calyx:     -   -   Quantity.—5.         -   Color, upper surface.—RHS 138A.         -   Lower surface.—RHS 138A.         -   Length.—0.4-0.45 cm.         -   Width.—0.2 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex shape.—Acute.         -   Base.—Fused.         -   Margins.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper/inner surface.—Smooth.         -   Lower/outer surface.—Heavily covered with glandular hairs             that are colored with anthocyanins. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Gynoecium.—         -   Pistil quantity.—1.         -   Length.—0.3 cm.         -   Style color.—RHS 144C.         -   Style length.—0.2 cm.         -   Stigma color.—RHS 154C.         -   Stigma shape.—Bi-parted.         -   Ovary color.—RHS144A.         -   Ovary height.—0.4 cm.         -   Ovary width.—0.3 cm.         -   Androecium.—         -   Stamens, quantity.—10.         -   Color of filaments.—RHS 157D.         -   Length filaments.—0.3 cm.         -   Anther color.—RHS 151B but a little more golden.         -   Anther length.—0.05 cm.         -   Anther shape.—Oval.         -   Color of pollen.—RHS 13A.         -   Pollen amount.—Normal.         -   Fertility/seed set.—Has not been determined to date.         -   Disease/pest resistance.—Has not been determined to date. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Saxifraga plant named ‘SAXZ0010’ substantially as illustrated and described herein. 